Is Binge Watching Harmful?

The average time spent binge watching is just over three hours, which means it is really nothing different from watching a long movie. Are people spending more time in front of screens than they used to? It absolutely isespecially since the COVID lockdowns of 2020, when people spent as much as 13 hours per day in front of a screen (Eyesafe). This is perhaps the more alarming statistic because it means that people are not interacting as much with one another or with nature out in the real world. That kind of disconnect can be harmful on psychological, emotional and social levels. As the Cleveland Clinic notes, it can lead to depersonalization and derealization disorder. However, not every binge watcher is going to develop such a disorder. If the binge watching does not interfere with ones ability to interact socially, perform ones work, or maintain a normal, healthy, functioning life, the harmful effects may be muted. On the other hand, if binge watching becomes an addiction, it has the potential to disrupt ones development and ones growth.

Why has binge watching become a phenomenon? One reason is that more content is now available for streaming on streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple, Hulu, and Amazon. People can stream an entire series all at once. With old media, this was impossible, as people were at the mercy of local programming for the most part. If they wanted to catch a series they would have to tune in at the right time to see an episode. Or they...

Now, thanks to streaming, people can watch to their hearts content. They can sit for hours if they like, watching episode after episode. But just because one can does not mean that one should.

What are some of the harmful effects of binge watching? One is that it portends a lack of physical activity: if a person is watching a screen for hours at a time, he is unlikely to be engaging in physical exercise, which is important for a bodys health, particularly for young people (Gavin). People who do not exercise are at risk of becoming obese and developing health problems later on life. People who binge watch are also more likely to snack in between meals, which can add to the problem (Spoon University).

However, not everyone who binge watches is going to be idle or eat unhealthy snacks. Peloton bikes have become very popular over the past year, and some people will exercise on their bike while watching, or they may opt for healthy snacks while streaming. It is not a given that every person who binge watches will also neglect to take time for working out at the gym. Streaming has given people an opportunity to change viewing habitsthat is all. Some people like being able to watch multiple episodes in one gobut they also take time for things that matter, like exercise, socialization in the real world, and taking care of their bodies.

Thus, it cannot be said that binge watching is always and in every case going to become a problem for people. There are risks to binge watching, but some people know how to mitigate those risks. People who are mindful about their health, who are know how to prioritize and how to make sure they are getting their work done, are going to be less likely to develop bad habits…